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The blade designs of falchions varied widely across the continent and through the ages.

They almost always included a single edge with a slight curve on the blade towards the point on the end and most were also affixed with a quilloned crossguard for the hilt in the manner of the contemporary long-swords.

This would seem to reflect two separate methods of adapting the arming sword to combat increasingly tough armour; either to make the blade sufficiently heavy-duty to inflict blunt trauma through the armour, or narrow-pointed enough to pierce it with a thrust.

Arguably these two forms of blade evolve into the longsword, and the cinquedea.

In some versions the falchion looks rather like the scramasax and later the sabre, and in some versions the form is irregular or like a machete with a crossguard.

While some propose that encounters with the Islamic shamshir inspired its creation, these "scimitars" of Persia were not developed until long after the falchion.

The shape concentrates more weight near the end, thus making it more effective for chopping strikes like an axe or cleaver. But instead of following the hordes to the popular and crowded destinations, why not try something smaller and just as impressive. There’s no doubt that Europe’s best-known towns and cities are stunning.The weapon combined the weight and power of an axe with the versatility of a sword.Falchions are found in different forms from around the 11th century up to and including the sixteenth century.